UP Chief Minister made arbitrary grants — CAG

Arbitrary sanctions for Rs 61 lakh were issued to the Press Clubs and individuals during 1994-95, the report said, adding Rs 33.18 lakh were sanctioned as awards and gifts to the staff in the Chief Minister and Governor’s secretariats on Holi and Diwali in violation of the financial propreity in disbursement of public funds, the report said.

The report said Rs 1.21 crore was sanctioned to 22 Bar Associations during 1993-94 to1996-97 and Rs 82.83 lakh was sanctioned in 69 cases as grants for organising fairs and conferences without recording any justification. The CAG said, against the maximum limit of Rs 5000 to Rs 35,000 for different purposes, sanctions were issued for amounts ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 36 lakh without any justification in 1179 cases out of the 6012 test-checked cases during the period between 1991-92 to 1996-97. The grantees included religious institutions which was irregular, the CAG said. The report said the sanctions were made by public announcements during the visits of Chief Ministers and Governors to districts. A further Rs 4.99 crore was issued to 498 non-government schools for purposes other than construction of buildings which were not admissible.

The CAG has asked the state Government to lay down guidelines to identify the beneficiaries, form a committee of principal secretaries to screen suitable cases, not to sanction grants to religious groups and casteist organisations and to present theabnual report on the utilisation of Fund to the Legislature.

The CAG has also pointed out that since the Governors have their own discretionary funds they should not use the Chief Minister’s Fund during the President’s rule in states.

Though the recommendations were sent in June 1998 the state Government has not yet set up the Principal Secretaries committee.